Farfan: Offer withdrawn but Schalke "prepared to talk"
04.01.2012
Schalke began their preparations for the second half of the season with a lactate test on Tuesday. Jefferson Farfan did not take part, however. Following discussions with the club management, the Peru international joined up with the rest of the first-team squad on Wednesday to depart for the training camp in Qatar.
"It didn't make sense for him to take the first flight from Peru to Germany on New Year's Day when it was unclear if he could take part in the lactate test due to his injury. And unlike the other players, Farfan does not have his whole family with him all year round," said Horst Heldt, explaining the 27-year-old's absence. Last summer the Royal Blues granted Raul's request to join the training camp on Rügen late due to a family birthday.
Heldt also confirmed media reports that the Royal Blues have withdrawn the contract extension offered to Farfan. "We are fully entitled, and it's also standard procedure, to select a point in time where we no longer feel bound to this offer," said Heldt. "But we're still prepared to talk. We're not looking to let Jeff go."
Farfan will undergo a separate training programme in Qatar to make sure he is fit for the Bundesliga restart. "We hope the training camp will give him the opportunity to put himself in contention," said Huub Stevens. "He was able to work on his fitness during the Christmas break and now he wants to prove himself again."
